Epicyclic driving mechanism for cycles.



A. H. REILLY. EPIGYOLIG DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CYCLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28.19 07.

PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908.

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H. REILLY. EPIOYOLIO DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CYCLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1907.

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[161B #0 H I0 b a 0 ARTHUR HENRY REILLY, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

EPIGYCLIG DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CYCLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Application filed August 28, 1907. SerialNo. 390,516.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR HENRY REILLY, subject of Great Britain, residing at Summer Hill Street \Vorks, Summer Hill street, in the city of Birmingham, England,

have invented new and useful Improvements Relating to Epicyclic Driving Mechanism for'Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of cycle driving mechanism of the epicyclic type in which two separate planet pinions mounted upon a common carrier and gearing with driving and driven annuli and central sun pinions are employed.

gitudinal section and Fig. 2 a transverse section (with one half on the line A B and the other half on the line C D Fig. 1) of a cycle three speed gear constructed in accordance with this invention. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views showing in front and side elevation res ectively the pinion carrier. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 6 a transverse section of a modified form of my gear. Fig. 7 is a front view of a clutch plate employed with the pinion carrier shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The same reference letters in the different views indicate the saine or similar parts.

In carrying the invention into effect as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 4 I arrange within the hub as a of a cycle rear road wheel, a pinion carrier 1) having thereon two sets of planet pinions designated by c and (Z respectively.

The carrier may be constructed in any convenient manner, such for example as shown at Figs. 3 and 4 in which a series of pins 1/ for the support of the planet pinions c and (Z are formed integrally with the carrier ring 1).

Upon the stationary hub spindle e are freely mounted a pair of central or sun pinionsf and g, and also a pair of "fixed clutch elements h and 2' both of which are formed with a central aperture provided with internal projections adapted to engage the teeth of the central pinions. By any ordinary and convenient device, such as a central rod having a transverse peg j capable of sliding in a slot in the spindle c the pinion f can be moved into engagement with the clutch h and the pinion g with the clutch i. Disengagement of the pinions from their clutches is effected by springs 7r. In the form of gear shown the planet pinions (l are of larger diameter than the pinions 0. Movement of the sun pinion towards theright hand is therefore limited by the planet pinions (1.. \Vhen the said sun pinion f is moved towards the left hand the sun pinion 5] can follow it under the influence of its spring, but the pinion does not thereupon engage with the planet pinions c owing to their being of smaller diameter than the pinions d. The planet pinions d are embraced by an annulus Z with which is secured an ordinary driving sprocket m while the planet oinions 0 gear with an annulus a. From the latter motion can be transmitted to the hub a through any convenient clutch 0 of the free wheel type. The carrier 1) can also be con nected to the hub (b by a similar clutch p.

Provision is made in the central aperture of the plate Z of the annulus Z for the engagement therewith of the sun pinion g. In or der that the said pinion g may also engage with the clutch i without at the same time gearing with annulus plate Z it is grooved as shown at g, the width and depth of the groove being sullicient to clear the internal projections in the central aperture of the plate.

In the gear shown at Figs. 5 to 7, which is essentially similar to the gear hereinbefore described and differs only in minor details, the carrier 1) is provided with a loose plate b (illustrated in detail at Fig. 7) which is inserted between the planet pinions c and (I The plate is virtually part of the carrier being rotated or heldstationary with the same by the pins 1). In the central aperture of the plate 1) internal projections are formed for the engagement therewith of the central pinion g. The clutch in the plate 1) serves in the place of the clutch in the plate Z hereinbefore referred to. Movement of the pinions j and g along the spindle is limited by a collar 0. In this form of my gear the pinions in both of the planet series 0 and (l are of the same diameter.

Three speed ratios may be obtained from the aforesaid gears as follows:By moving the sun pinion 9 into engagement with the clutch 'i and thereby locking the said pinion fcs to the axle (the sun pinionf being in engagement with the pinions 0 only and therefore inoperative) the carrier 1) is rotated at a slower rate than the driving sprocket m, and such reduced motion is transmitted to the hub a through the medium of the carrier clutch p. The high speed is obtained by moving the pinion f into engagement with the clutch h and thereby locking the said pinion to the axle e, the pinion g being simultaneously moved by its spring into engagement with the carrier plate 5 (Fig. 5) or the plate Z of the driving member (Fig. 1). Motion is then transmitted to the hub a by means of the driven annulus a through the medium of its clutch 0. Normal driving (or rotation at the same rate as the driving sprocket) is obtained by locking the sun pinion g to the plate I) (Fig. 5) or the plate 6 (Fig. 1), the sun pinionf being disengaged from its clutch and therefore inoperative. Motion is then transmitted to the hub through the carrier clutch 19. It will thus be seen that in both forms of my gear the normal and low speed drive are transmitted through the clutch p and only the high speed drive through the clutch 0. Further, in none of the changes is either of the sun pinions entirely disengaged from its train of planets.

The hub and mechanism are mounted upon the axle in any convenient manner, ball bearings being provided as shown for the various parts where required. Ball or roller bearings may also be interposed between the carrier 6 and clutch h or between the carrier 1) and annulus n if required.

Having'thus described my invention what 'I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent .is:-

1. In a three speed driving mechanism for a cycle wheel hub, the combination with the hub, of two sets of epicyclic gearing consisting in part of a revoluble carrier planet pinions mounted thereon driving and. driven annuli or internally toothed rings respectively engaging the said pinions, of a free wheel clutch directly connecting thedriven annulus with the cycle wheel hub, and a similar clutch directly connecting the said revoluble carrier with the said hub, as set forth.

2. In a three speed driving mechanism for a cycle wheel hub, the combination consisting of a pair of central sun wheels and means for imparting a sliding movement thereto, a hub, two sets of planet pinions respectively gearing with the said sun wheels, a revoluble I carrier on which the said planet pinions are 1 i l I mounted, a free wheel clutch directly connecting the said carrier with the cycle wheel hub, a driving annulus engaging one set of the said planet pinions, a driven annulus engaging the other set of the said planet pinions, and a free wheel clutch directly con* necting the said driven annulus with the cycle wheel hub, as set forth.

3. In a three speed driving mechanism for a cycle wheel hub, the combination consisting of a pair of central sun wheels a nonrotatable axle with which said wheels are in sliding connection, a pair of clutches in rigid connection with the said axle, means for sliding the said sun wheels or pinions into and out of engagement with the said clutches, two sets of planet pinions respectively gearing with the sun wheels, a revoluble carrier on which the said planet pinions are mounted, a cycle wheel hub, a free wheel clutch directly connecting the said carrier with the cycle wheel hub, a driving annulus engaging one set of the planet pinions, a driven annulus engaging the other set of the planet pinions, and a free wheel clutch directly connecting the said driven annulus with the cycle wheel hub, as setforth.

4. In a three speed driving mechanism for a cycle wheel hub, the combination consisting of a pair of central sun wheels a nonrotatable axle with which said wheels are in sliding connection, a pair'of clutches in rigid connection with the said axle, means for sliding the said sun wheels into and out of engagement with the said clutches, two sets of planet pinions respectively gearing with the sun wheels, a revoluble carrier on which the said planet pinions are mounted, a cycle wheel hub, a free wheel clutch directly connecting the said carrier with the cycle wheel hub, a clutch revoluble with the carrier and detachably engaging one of the central sun wheels, a driving annulus engaging one set of the planet pinions, a driven annulus engaging the other set of the planet pinions, and a free .wheel clutch directly connecting the said driven annulus with the cycle wheel hub, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR HENRY REILLY. l/Vitnesses:

JoI-IN lVIORGAN, PERCY WARwooD. 

